Click to play videoNew Delhi: The good times didn't last long. Airlines have done away with cheaper tickets on all domestic routes and classes. The new prices came into effect on February 7.
- The basic fare for full service airlines like Jet Airways, Kingfisher and Air India are up by Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,800.
- The Delhi-Mumbai sector is the worst hit, with basic fares higher by Rs 1,800 to Rs 2,200 per passenger.
- Budget airlines Indigo, GoAir and Spicejet have increased basic fares by Rs 2,000.
Airlines say they are forced to increase fares as there aren't enough passengers to break even.
SpiceJet CEO, Sanjay Agarwal said, "We have been saying all along that the fares that we sold the tickets for in January were at unsustainable levels and at those fare levels, it would have required over a 100 per cent load factor to even break even. So the fare increase was expected or anticipated. It had to be done."
Despite ATF prices coming down, the party of low-fares seems to be over. Airlines have also confirmed that they will not be able to offer Rs 9 or Rs 99 as basic fares in the short run. So the bad news for passengers will continue.
(With inputs from Varun Kumar in New Delhi)
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